ABC Sitcom Pilot Review: Help Me Help You - Premieres September 26th

Monday, September 25, 2006

ABC Sitcom Pilot Review: Help Me Help You - Premieres September 26th

Help Me Help You - Tuesdays at 9:30PM ET/PT on ABC
Premieres September 26th at 9:30PM ET/PT

Ted Danson ("Cheers," "Becker") stars in this comedy series about a collection of eccentric individuals in group therapy with a respected therapist -- who may quite possibly have more problems than his patients.

Dr. Bill Hoffman (Danson) is a brilliant therapist with a lucrative practice and the author of several definitive psychotherapy texts. He is an icon among his fellow therapists. But his over-inflated ego is dealt a blow when he is forced to come to grips with the end of his 25-year marriage to wife Anne (guest star Jane Kaczmarek, "Malcolm in the Middle"). Bill is also forced to deal with the news that his daughter is dating her psychology professor -- a man old enough to be her father and who also happens to idolize him. Things are changing too fast, and Bill is struggling to keep up.

When it comes to the group patients, Bill also has his work cut out for him: The newest group member, Dave (Charlie Finn, the film "The Dukes of Hazzard"), recently attempted suicide by jumping out of his office window -- and landing on his boss; Jonathan (Jim Rash, "Sky High") is a self-avowed metro-sexual who is in serious denial that he might possibly be gay; Inger (Suzy Nakamura, "Dodgeball") is a 25-year-old, self-made millionaire who totally lacks social skills and hasn't had a real date in over six years; Darlene (Darlene Hunt, "I Heart Huckabees") has too many psychological issues to count, including her obsession with Dr. Hoffman; and Michael (Jere Burns, "Good Morning Miami," "Dear John") has anger issues at work, which is what led him into mandatory group therapy.

The group will try to apply Bill's advice to their lives out in the world, while Bill tries to figure out his own life problems.

"Help Me Help You" was created by Jennifer Konner & Alexandra Rushfield ("Undeclared"), who also serve as executive producers, along with Alex Reid ("Malcolm in the Middle"). The show is from Regency Television.

Cast: Ted Danson as Dr. Bill Hoffman, Charlie Finn as Dave, Jim Rash as Jonathan,
Suzy Nakamura as Inger, Darlene Hunt as Darlene, Jere Burns as Michael.

Read our review of the pilot and 3rd episode here.

Discuss the show after you watch it on Tuesday on our message board.

Related Links:

ABC.com Official Site

TV.com

epguides.com

Internet Movie Database

Wikipedia

Help Me Help You Photo Gallery

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Complete TV Listings

Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of January 30)

Tuesday, January 31

Pamela Anderson (Stacked/Home Improvement) - Catch Pamela on Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
Sarah Michelle Gellar (The Crazy Ones) - Sarah appears on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine/Are We There Yet?/Everybody Hates Christ) - Terry is a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
Sally Field (Gidget/The Flying Nun/The Girl with Something Extra) - Sally will be on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
Scott Caan (Entourage) - Scott appears on The Late Late Show with James Corden at 12:37am on CBS.
D. L. Hughley (The Hughleys/Double Rush) - D. L. guest hosts Comedy Central's The Daily Show at 11pm. He talks about taking over the responsibilities as guest host of The Daily Show on Sherri, so check your local listings.
Kal Penn (The Santa Clauses/Sunnyside/We Are Men) - Kal gives all the details about the upcoming ABC special Schoolhouse Rock! 50th Anniversary Singalong on LIVE! with Kelly and Ryan, so check your listings.
Anthony Anderson (black-ish/Guys with Kids/All About the Andersons) - Anthony appears on The Kelly Clarkson Show, so check your local listings.
Tia Mowry (Family Reunion/The Game/Sister, Sister) - Tia will be on The Jennifer Hudson Show, so check your local listings.
Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias/Trial & Error/Sherri/Less Than Perfect) - Sherri talks about her new talk show on Rachael Ray, so check your local listings.
Jennifer Grey (Red Oaks/It's Like, You Know...) - Jennifer talks about her Lifetime film Gwen Shamblin on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am and on NBC's Today in the 10am hour..
Kyla Pratt (Call Me Kat/The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder/Let's Stay Together/One on One) - Kyla talks about the new Disney+ series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder on ABC's GMA 3: What You Need to Know at 1pm.
Harry Hamlin (Movie Stars) - Harry talks about AMC's Mayfair Witches on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
Reyn Doi (That '90s Show) - Reyn will be on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 8:50am.
Drew Barrymore (Santa Clarita Diet) - Drew appears on NBC's Today some time between 7-9am.
Nathan Lane (Only Murders in the Building/Modern Family/Charlie Lawrence/Encore! Encore!) - NBC's Today catches up with Nathan in the 9am hour.